Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between high school counselors and lead counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead counselor has an average salary of $178,478, which is higher than the $48,361 average annual salary of a high school counselor.
The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for a lead counselor are legal advice, litigation, and work ethic.
| High School Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,361 | $178,478 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $85.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 93,675 | 74,247 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
High school counselors are professional counselors who assist high school students in developing their academic and social skills as well as serve their social and emotional needs. These counselors are required to have one-on-one sessions with students who are experiencing personal problems. They are required to guide students with their college application process and other avenues such as apprenticeships or training programs. High school counselors must also educate students about issues such as drug abuse, bullying, or other significant problems the students are facing.
A Lead Counselor is responsible for the management of patients' mental health and rehabilitation services. Often, they help them to recover from a tragic or traumatic kind of situation. They also help the patient cope with family and job-related stress and other personal issues. They teach other staff and especially clients to educate them in dealing with stress management and eventually monitor their progress. This person should also have strong written and verbal communication skills.
High school counselors and lead counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| High School Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,361 | $178,478 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $100,000 And $315,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | MDI |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a high school counselor and a lead counselor in terms of educational background:
| High School Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between high school counselors' and lead counselors' demographics:
| High School Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |